Illuminating-shell



A. G. BERGIVIAN.

ILLUMINATING SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. n

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

IIIIIH 'INVENTOR By fw/nays,

WITNESSES:

- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL G. BERGMAN, 0F. NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ORDNANCE ENGINEERING CORPORATION, 07F NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION-,OF NEW JERSEY.

ILLUMINATING-SHELL,

l To all whom t may; concern.'

" a subject of the King ofSwedem'residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county,

and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating-Shells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to illuminatin shells or projectiles adapted to be lire usually from a trench mortar and t-o burn for a certain length of time, in flight or otherwise, for the purpose of disclosing the location or other facts concerning the enemys position.

The resent invention is directed more particu arly to a means for timing the commencement of the burning of the illuminating'shell. It provides a simple and positive means for this purpose which means are under the control of the operator serving the mortar. To this end, in its preferred form the invention comprises a shell having a base provided with an elongated passage which is usually circular, in which is located a fuse, preferably comprising an impregnated string or cord, which is fired by the powder gases practically instantaneously throughout its length. Located in juxtaposition to such fuse is a casing preferably in the form of a puncturable pipe which contains a slow burning fuse. The latter isV ignited at the point of puncture and leads to the explosive charge of the shell, the time required being dependent.

upon the point at which the casing is punctured. The invention includes' certainother improvements which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one form of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a lcentral vertical section of the preferred form of shell;

Fig. 2 is an exterior side view;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings let A indicate the shell as a whole which best com rises a shell casing B and a headblock or ase C. Within the casing B is located an illuminating charge D preferably of a mixture of magnesium and aluminum. In the top of the charge D is located a parachute E normally confined by a thin cover F. I'he charge D rests upon a cushion of reslhent specification of Letters Patent.' Patented oct, 14, 1919 Application led September 11,1916. Serial 170.119,39. i

material G, located between it-and the base i C. The charge D 1s provided with a fuse H whlch extends downwardly to a central recess I, containing what may be called the explodlng charge (indicated by the letter l), or,1n other words the charge which projects the illuminant and parachute outof the eas1 ng B. v Upon such projection the fuse H 1s 1gn1ted,.th`e shell B drops to the ground and the parachute E opens and suspends the illuminating charge in mid air during the period of its burning.

Accordlng to the present invention means are provided for timing the ignition of the exploding charge J. In the preferred form ofthe invention shown, the base C is rovided with an interior recess K whic is best formed as a circular recess extending around the shell'. In this recess is located a fuse designated by the letter L. This fuse preferably comprises a string or cord impregnated with a black powder solution which 1s capable, when confined, of flashing practically instantly throughout its length upon belng ignited. For the purpose of ignition a small hole or holes such as M may be provided in the bottom of the base, filled with a .compressedpowder or other fulminat'e which is ignited by the firing charge of the mortar and ractically simultaneously ignites the pow er string L. In juxtaposition to this fuse L is located a casing N which is'preferably in the form of a thin lead pipe or other punctura-ble container, Preferably also the'casing N is of the same shape as, and lies immediately over, the powder` string throughout its length so that when the latter is fired the flames play upon the underside of the casing N throughout the length of the latter. One end of the casing is sealed as shown at O and the other end leads to the recess I as shown at P.

The casing B of the shell is provided with a series of perforations indicated by Q, Q', Q2, etc., through which a sharp instrument may be inserted to puncture the pipe N. The various apertures Q are preferably numbered and best represent the number of seconds which may be required to ignite the exploding or projecting charge J. In Fig. 2 the scale is divided into half seconds so that a suitable degree of accuracy may be attained. The time graduations may be more or less, as desired, and will be spaced in proor opening Q. The shell is t en loaded into a mortar and fired in the usual manner by the propelling charge or cartridge in the mortar.

While I have shown and described one form of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is j 1. A projectile having a charge to be fired,

and comprisin a casing, a time fuse locatedv in the shell an comprising a container lead-v ing to the charge to be fired, and having a combustible charge within it, said container arranged laterally of the projectile and formed of a material adapted to be puncturedv at various points in its length, a portion of the said casing serving as a covering for substantially all of the exterior of the container, and rotecting said exterior against direct action of the firing charge.

2. A projectile lhaving' a charge to be fired, and a time fuse device located in the base of said rojectile, comprising a casing leading to said charge to be fired, having a circular form corresponding to the wall in the projectile and being constructed of puncturable material whereby it may be perforated at various points in its length, said shell having a series of apertures through which said casing may be punctured, and means for igniting the said charge in said casing when the projectile is fired.

3. A projectile having a charge to be fired, and a ltime fuse device arranged laterally in the base of said projectile, comprising a casing leading to thecharge to be fired and lconstructed of puncturable material, whereby the casing may be perforated at various points in its length, and a fuse arranged in juxtaposition to said easing and of quickly ignitible material, whereby it is ignited throughout its length at substantially the same moment, the projectile serving as a covering for substantially all of the casing and protecting the latter against direct action of thel firing charge.

4. A projectile having a charge to be fired, said projectile havin a base, a charge to be fired within said base, said base having a recess surrounding said charge, a tube surrounding said charge and located in said recess, and having walls adapted to be punctured at various points in its length, and means for igniting the charge in said tube through such puncture.

5. projectile havin a shell casing, a base inserted therein, said shell casing having a series of apertures, a circular recess in said base communicating with said apertures, a casing Within said recess, a charge to be fired to which said casing leads, a charge in said casing, said casing being formed of puncturablematerial, a body of igniting material arranged in juxtaposition to said casing, and an aperture leading from the bottom of said base to said igniting material.

6. A projectile having a base inserted therein, said projectile having a series of apertures and said base formed with a circular recess communicatin with said apertures, a. tubular casing ormed of easily puncturable material and located in said recess, a charge to be fired surrounded by said casing, a circular igniting member beneath said casing, an aperture leading from the bottom of said base to said recess, and igniting material in said aperture.

7. A projectile comprising a cylindrical shell casing, a container for Villuminating material Within said shell casing, a parachute above said container and connected therewith, a centrally arranged fuse for said illuminating material, a base for said shell having a central recess adapted to contain a charge to expel the container and parachute from the shell casing, a circular recess in said base, a tubular casing leading to said circular recess and retaining a charge of puncturable material, said shell havin a series of perforations opposite said casing, and a powder train beneath said casing adapted to be ignited throughout its length substantially simultaneously, the perforations in the base leading to the bottom thereof, and combustible plugs in said perforations.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto 'signed my name. 

